After seeing the sequence of five games without defeat ended — four wins and a draw — the Benfica receive the AVS this Saturday (21), in the Brazilian League, in the interval between the two clashes against Real Madrid for the playoffs Champions League.
However, coach José Mourinho will not hold a press conference before the match. The coach chose to speak only to the club’s TV on Friday (20). It is the ninth time he has made this decision this season.
Mourinho had already adopted the same stance in games against Moreirense, Famalicão, Casa Pia, Nacional, Rio Ave, Estrela da Amadora, Tondela and Santa Clara. Conferences prior to Liga Portugal games are not mandatory.
Expelled in the first leg against , last Tuesday (17), after arguing with referee François Letexier, the Portuguese will also not need to give an interview before the return duel. After the 1-0 defeat at Estádio da Luz, in Lisbon, he classified the situation as “good news”.
The coach has been criticized by the international press for minimizing the situation during the confrontation. Real Madrid’s number 7 claims he was called a “monkey” by Benfica player.
In an interview after the match, he guaranteed the Spanish team’s victory, claiming that he had “ended the game”.
“One thing is what Vinicius says, another is what Prestianni says. They are completely different things. What I said to Vinicius, independently, not defending my lady (Benfica), is: when you score a goal like that, it comes on your shoulders. You’re not going to mess with the stadium, with the heart of the opponent’s stadium”, he told TNT.
“As they say in Spain, whoever scores a goal like that cuts off his tail, cuts off his ear and leaves on his shoulders. It doesn’t end the game. And it ended the game”, he concluded.
